A mission of public schools is to produce students who are intellectually competent and prepared for postsecondary education and the increasingly competitive workforce. An urgent concern among education takeholders today is the underrepresentation of African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans among high-achieving students. Despite increased efforts to maximize educational outcomes and to respond to the challenge of educating increasingly multicultural, multilingual, and disadvantaged students, more work is necessary to continue to improve student performance. It is recommended that affirmative development of academic ability be nurtured and developed through (1) high-quality teaching and instruction in the classroom, (2) trusting relationships in school, and (3) supports for pro-academic behavior in the school and community.